“…ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by the tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ…(1 Peter 1: 18-19 KJV).

The value of the Blood of Christ cannot be fully comprehended by the human mind. To the unbelieving world it means nothing. To the unbelieving world it is foolishness. But its value is not determined by the world. Its value is determined by God the Father! And the Father places a very high value upon the Blood of His Son!

The Blood of Jesus Christ is the most powerful element in the universe. It is the Blood of Christ shed for us on Calvary that purchased our redemption (Rev. 5:9). The Blood of Christ is so powerful that it paid in full EVERY CLAIM that sin and the kingdom of darkness had (or ever will have) upon us (Col. 2: 13-15). It is the Blood of Christ that gives us access to the peace of God (Col. 1:20). It is the Blood of Christ that enables us to be declared righteous (Rom. 5: 8-9). It is the Blood of Christ that enables us to have fellowship with God the Father and enables us to become a part of His family (Eph. 2:13).

It is the Blood of Christ that causes the demons to flee (James 2:19). It is the Blood of Christ that brings healing (Isaiah 53:5). It is the Blood of Christ that destroys EVERY stronghold (2 Cor. 10:4). The Blood of Christ contains the very Life of God Himself (Lev. 17:11). And that Life is eternal! It is the Blood of Christ that give US eternal life (John 10: 28). May we be ever thankful to God for the Blood of His Son, Jesus Christ!

Rev. James W. Black

“I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20 KJV).

The one thing that marks the true followers of Christ is the cross! It was on the Cross that Jesus paid for our sin in full! He became the sacrificial Lamb of God, chosen before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). It was on the cross that sin was judged and judgment was carried out. And it was there on the cross that the greatest message of love and forgiveness in the universe was displayed. Both events were open and visible for all to see.

The cross is the dividing line of human history. And the cross is the dividing line of our personal history. For the followers of Christ, it is there on the cross that our old life and our old person died. And it is there on the cross, that our new life in Christ begins. It is there on the cross that we were delivered from the power of sin. It is there on the cross where we are empowered to live a new life in Christ. It is there on the cross that all of Satan’s claims against us are cancelled. And it is there on the cross that we are empowered to overcome all the powers of darkness.

The crucified life is the paradox of the Christian life. Both death and life, judgment and freedom, hell and heaven all meet together at the cross. Mercy and grace are wrapped in unbelievable love. Death is swallowed up in victory and eternal life is the ultimate outcome (1 Cor. 15:54). It is the mighty resurrection of Jesus that gives the cross its power. And the revelation of that reality causes us to bow before Him! Until the cross and the resurrection becomes a reality to us, all we have is religion. But when it becomes a reality, we will be forever changed and transformed. We will never be the same again. And we will willingly spend our lives for Him! For there is no genuine life in Christ apart from the cross (Mark 8:34).

Rev. James W. Black